# Virtually Earned Basketball Kicks These LEBRON 11 2K14 Shoes Were Unlocked by 2,014 Video Gamers By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-05-21 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-11-2k14 References: [bleacherreport](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2066350-nike-and-2k-sports-release-lebron-11-2k14-shoes-earned-solely-through-gameplay) & [nikeinc](http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-basketball-and-2k-sports-unveil-in-game-lebron-11-2k14-shoe) The LEBRON 11 2K14 is the first-ever real-life basketball shoe that was unlocked through video gaming, thanks to a partnership between sportswear giant [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-and-fortnite) and video game brand 2K Sports. The shoes, limited to only 2,014 pairs, were only made accessible to gamers playing the NBA 2K14 game. Gamers had to put in around 80 hours of game time to accomplish the various milestones necessary to be able to pre-order the coveted shoe, with required feats including winning 60 games and making a signature shoe in the Nike Innovation Kitchen. The LEBRON 11 2K14 features a jungle cat print that wraps a deep red upper, symbolizing the heart of a lion. It is the lightest and lowest LeBron James signature shoe ever, with a men's size 9 weighing approximately 14.5 ounces. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 45% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/games) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Virtual Unlockables:** Unlocking real-world products through video gaming creates a unique and immersive consumer experience. - **Gamified Marketing:** Gamifying marketing campaigns can incentivize consumer engagement and build brand loyalty. - **Limited Edition Collaboration:** Collaborations between sports brands and video game companies can create highly sought-after and exclusive products. ### Where This Applies - **Sportswear:** Sportswear brands can explore partnerships with gaming companies to tap into the growing demand for virtual unlockables. - **Video Games:** Video game companies can leverage collaborations with brands to create exciting in-game rewards that translate into real-world products. - **Consumer Electronics:** Consumer electronics companies can explore the integration of gaming elements into their products to enhance user engagement and create unique selling points. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [In-Game Digital Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-and-fortnite.md) - [Athlete-Backed Game Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-game-console.md) - [Candy-Themed Tonal Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii.md) - [New Year-Inspired Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/year-of-the-dragon-colorway.md) - [Digitally-Collectible Footwear Items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fortnite-kicks.md) - [Vibrant Festive Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kd17.md) - [Athlete-Backed Sports Training Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tr1.md) - [Villain-Centric Collaboration Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tekken-8.md) - [Digital Brand-Made Arenas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fc-25.md)